A LETTER FROM THE PRIME MINISTERS OFFICE – Day 9

I’m sorry that I skipped a day yesterday. I was a  little flat and to be honest it’s all starting to feel normal, living here. I am in a regular routine so I didn’t have too much to say. 

At the beginning, I was just kind of writing these pages to myself. To get it all out of my head and to maybe look back on one day. But I’m so glad I decided to share this journey. It’s just been quite incredible.  So many people have opened up to me in response.  I think it’s important right now. People are craving a deeper level of connection. It’s like I have gone back in time. I think writing letters in the mail will make a comeback. I hope so. 

Oh there was something exciting that did happen yesterday. I received an email from Alec McLean, the assistant of Jacinda Arden responding to my Day 1 memoir. Alec thanked me for my email and said that he knows Jacinda Arden will enjoy reading it so he has forwarded it on to her. I can’t believe it ! A reply just one day later. I wasn’t expecting that at all. 

I was up at 5:30am this morning. Back in my early start society!

I had my Margie Haber ongoing zoom class which is normally 10am Wednesday in LA but here it is 5am on a Thursday so I was up early for that. I was running a bit late but I was happy I made it and so excited to see everyone. Still half asleep and in my Pajamas,

I flipped open my laptop and clicked on the link. Margie and the class all cheer and clapped, happy that I had made it. I sleepily smiled and waved at everyone. Today was self tape day. We were all showing recent self tapes to get feedback from the class. Anything we wanted really. 

Last night I felt like getting off my computer and getting back into my body and doing some acting. I was inspired by Claudia and Brandon and the rest of the Navy outside in the foyer of the hotel so I decided to relive an old audition I had done for a navy officer in NCIS.

I imagined that this hotel was suddenly navy barracks and I was part of Claudia’s and Brandon’s team. I emailed the hotel the sides which they kindly printed for me and set up my lighting and tripod that I had brought with me in my suitcase from LA. My tripod was too short so i had to try and balance it on my chair. The chair is round, not flat so that unfortunately did not work. I saw the bookcases beside my bed. Do they move? Yes they do! I pulled them out and then managed to awkwardly set up my tripod on top of the book case. Ok. I decided I would just try something new and use the actual real door as the backdrop rather than a fake door.  

I had just finished setting up when I heard a large “POP” and everything turned dark! Eeek. My light had blown. Shit! I forgot about the wattage difference. I zoomed Brett and he patiently read for the other character while I went in and out doing about 5 different takes. 

After all that I actually decided to show the class an audition I had done for a comedy series the week before I left LA. The one from that night didn’t really work out. It was dark and the angle of the camera wasn’t the best so I changed my mind last minute. 

The class laughed and gave me positive feedback and helpful notes. I watched everyone else’s incredibly solid audition tapes and was blown away. So many incredible actors. All insanely beautiful too. 

I felt grateful to be in a class that challenged and supported me. Lead by an incredibly generous and amazing teacher. 

After the class I went outside into the foyer and out into the parking lot for some fresh air. 

I noticed that they had surrounded the hotel with large fences. Now it definitely feels more like a cage.

I went back inside and asked Claudia if they had put them up because of the Man who escaped and went into countdown on Victoria St. 

‘Yes’,  she said. She said they have had to up all the security. 

It rained more so I walked around in big loops in the foyer of the hotel. It was raining heavily outside and I wanted to get some more cardio in.

When you enter the foyer from outside. Past Claudia and Brandon and the rest of the Navy who check us in, there are stamps on the floor that have a picture of two humans with a heart between them and an arrow that says 2m. It’s a cute picture. The stamps are 2  meters (6ft)  apart from each other and lead you around the offices that are placed in the middle of the hotel foyer around to the restaurant. At the restaurant there is a small bar with a woman wearing a blue mask and blue gloves and blue apron making coffee. 

Just past the restaurant there are four stations set up with clear plastic shields attached. These are the stations we checked in on the first day. Behind the check in stations are large tables with hundreds and hundreds of brown paper bags inside. They are setting up to distribute all of the bags for lunch.  I pass the kitchen and then the elevators and then the nurses office and then I am back where I started.  They look at me strangely. Walking around in circles. I keep walkin in loops for a while and then decide to go back into my room.

I answered a couple of messages from friends, teasing, asking me if I was the one who escaped. Lol. 

Nope. Still here. 

The rain stopped suddenly ! So I rushed outside. Claudia and Brandon said “Hey again” laughing that i was so in and out today.  I forgot how crazy the weather is in Auckland. Four seasons in one Day. 

I went and sat out on my secret spot in front of my room on the ledge in the sun. As I was leaning my head against the wall, I noticed a man walk past the fence and actually smile at me. That was so nice. We mostly get weird looks and evil stares. Some curious. Some laughing at the absurdity. But he genuinely smiled. It was nice to be looked at like a human. 

Outside there was the Mother and Daughter combo that I see power walking and talking every day. There was also the family with the two boys, the woman with bright tights who was on my flight and then there was me. 

I haven’t seen Marvin for a while. He must have finished his time here. 

The rain started again so I went back inside.

There was a sign on the door saying we cant leave our rooms from 10pm tonight as a new plane is arriving. I wonder where its coming from. 

Everything is starting to feel a little more normal now. I’m a pro. Got this thing down ! 

I know exactly what to expect. I have a good enough routine set up and the days are going by pretty fast. 

Dance Party Song of the day : Superhero – Danny Byrd feat MacyGray.